Radio host Piolin to get new show on SiriusXM

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Spanish-language radio host Eddie “Piolin” Sotelo is getting his own channel on SiriusXM, three weeks after Univision canceled his long-running show amid sexual harassment allegations.

“Piolin Radio” will launch later this year. Sotelo will anchor it in a four-hour morning drive call-in show from Los Angeles, the satellite radio service announced Tuesday.

“‘El Show de Piolín’ will include lively discussion of the day’s events, surprise interviews with celebrity guests, listener call-ins, pranks, music and much more,” SiriusXM said.

Sotelo, whose nickname means “Tweety Bird,” said in the statement that he “can’t wait to fly free and for the first time be truly available coast-to-coast.”

SiriusXM is hoping that Piolin will draw subscribers and advertisers as it expands its Spanish-language lineup to reach a growing Latino audience, said Scott Greenstein, SiriusXM president and chief content officer.

Sotelo, who was recently elected to the National Radio Hall of Fame, played corny jokes and pranks on his morning drive time show but also hosted politicians including President Barack Obama to discuss issues such as immigration reform.

After a decade on the air, however, Univision abruptly canceled Sotelo’s radio show last month after a Univision employee alleged that Sotelo had sexually harassed him. Sotelo has denied the allegation.